ERCP Fellowship Opportunities

ERCP, as part of the Gastroenterology/Hepatology Division, offers a one-year ERCP advanced endoscopy fellowship-training program. Our ERCP program is nationally and internationally recognized for both our patient care and research. While the majority of the patients come from Indiana and the surrounding states, a significant portion come from other states in the United States and abroad. On average we perform over 3,000 ERCPs annually.

Our primary goal is to teach trainees who will further the field in advanced endoscopy and provide trainees with the foundation necessary to embark upon an academic career. We are therefore committed to training people who will pursue academic careers and/or returning to places where there is little or no advanced endoscopy skills. Training is carried out at the University Hospital, an adult tertiary care hospital that functions as a major quaternary referral center for the state and surrounding region.

During the one-year ERCP training program, fellows participate in eight months of hands-on training in therapeutic ERCP. This would include daily performance of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP, including Sphincter of Oddi manometry, common duct stone removal, stenting of benign and malignant strictures, lithotripsy, and pancreatic stone management and pseudocyst management. Direct care of both in-patients and outpatients is included. The trainee can be expected to directly hands-on participate in a minimum of 500 cases. This number of procedures nearly guarantees expertise in all aspects of therapeutic ERCP, including Sphincter of Oddi manometry and pancreatic therapeutics.

Four months are dedicated to research. During this protected time, trainees are given the opportunity for tabulation of research and writing of research papers. Trainees should take into consideration that all during the eight months hands-on interval, research study would be in process as data is acquired on an ongoing basis. Our research program is dedicated to developing new accessories and techniques, answering questions about the appropriateness of ERCP and manometry, reducing the rates of complications, and broadening the applications via ERCP. The advanced fellow would be expected to develop research projects, lead ongoing projects, and write chapters and manuscripts for books and journals, all under the supervision of the ERCP staff. A typical trainee finishes the year with a minimum of four publications in refereed journals. Additional publications would include book chapters. Certificate of completion of training is contingent upon completion of these manuscripts.

At the end of one year of training, we anticipate that the fellow would have expertise in the cognitive aspects and performance of ERCP. In addition to this expertise a fellow would have the skills to carry out independent clinical research once they return to their home institution.

To apply for fellowship training, please submit requests to the Fellowship Coordinator at the address below. Before a position is considered each applicant must submit a curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation and a personal statement that states interest and intent of the proposed training as well as proposed sponsorship/funding.

The most preferred candidates are those fellows wishing to pursue academic careers or returning to a country in need. In addition, per government regulations, all fellows must be fully funded by either their home country or their present institution. Self-funding is not allowed.

We appreciate your interest in our program and welcome your application.